Smokey Johnson
Encyclopedia
Joseph "Smokey" Johnson is one of the musicians, session players, and songwriters who have served as the backbone for New Orleans' output of jazz, funk, blues, soul, and R&B music.
Johnson served as the drummer for Fats Domino in the 1950s and 1960's. http://www.mp3.com/news/stories/10716.html http://liveneworleans.com/detail.php?id=548 http://music.msn.com/album/?album=10565400&menu=reviewhttp://www.satchmo.com/nolavl/noladirj.html
In 1961, Johnson and Wardell Quezergue
worked together on the session for Earl King
's proto-funk classic, "Trick Bag", produced by Dave Bartholomew.http://funky16corners.tripod.com/5_reviews.htmhttp://music.msn.com/album/?album=10565400&menu=review
Soon thereafter, Johnson went with Quezergue and childhood friend Joe Jones
, and several other New Orleans artists (including Johnny Adams
and Earl King
) to audition for Motownin Detroit, where they recorded numerous demo sessions. http://homeofthegroove.blogspot.com/2007/05/funky-to-fault.html Earl King once remarked that at least part of the reason why they got in the door was Motown's fascination with Smokey Johnson, who could do more on a trap set by himself than any two of the label's session drummers. Although Motown ended up not signing any of the New Orleans artists, Johnson offered to remain on staff while the other New Orleans artists were dispatched.
Johnson remained in Detroit for several months before deciding to return home; but his influence on the Motown sound was profound, as the other drummers studied his techniques, incorporating them into countless hit sessions.
In 1963 and 1964, Dave Bartholomew
enlisted Johnson for his last two Imperial big band albums, giving Johnson the spotlight on the tune, "Portrait Of A Drummer", from New Orleans House Party.
In 1964, about a year after Nola Records was formed in New Orleans, Quezergue a partner in the label as well as principal producer/arranger, invited Johnson to be the drummer for label's house band. http://funky16corners.tripod.com/5_reviews.htm After a few months, Johnson and Quezergue wound up writing and recording what has become a New Orleans Mardi Gras
standard called "It Ain't My Fault
". Deftly arranged, "It Ain't My Fault" is a fascinating early example of both Johnson and Quezergue incorporating Second Line syncopation into pop music. The arranger's device of starting off with just the drummer's relaxed but intricate percussive work (plus somebody hitting what sounds like a glass bottle) quickly pulls the listener into the song, even before the simple musical hook, played by just the guitar and piano. George Davis
runs the guitar riffs on the first side with that recognizable style made famous several years later on Robert Parker's "Barefootin'". http://homeofthegroove.blogspot.com/2007/05/funky-to-fault.html
While the lighthearted, hard to resist "It Ain't My Fault" was enjoyed locally in New Orleans, it did not have a national impact at the time, it set the stage for many more uniquely funked up grooves to follow, and over time has become a Mardi Gras favorite and a part of the brass band repertoire. "It Ain't My Fault", which sometimes is called "No, It Ain't My Fault" was recorded by groups such as the Olympia Brass Band
(formerly Dejean's Olympia Brass Band) (seven times)http://www.cduniverse.com/productinfo.asp?pid=1280390 http://www.cduniverse.com/productinfo.asp?pid=1280465 http://www.cduniverse.com/productinfo.asp?pid=7301615 http://www.cduniverse.com/productinfo.asp?pid=6843227 http://www.cduniverse.com/productinfo.asp?pid=1280400 http://www.cduniverse.com/productinfo.asp?pid=7512001 http://www.cduniverse.com/productinfo.asp?pid=1003582, the Rebirth Brass Band
http://www.cduniverse.com/productinfo.asp?pid=1001662 http://www.cduniverse.com/productinfo.asp?pid=1249826, the Dirty Dozen Brass Band
, Charmaine Neville
http://www.cduniverse.com/productinfo.asp?pid=7189525, Milton Batistehttp://www.cduniverse.com/productinfo.asp?pid=1037606, Shane Theriot (guitarist for the Neville Brothers) http://www.cduniverse.com/productinfo.asp?pid=1219396, the Young Olympians http://www.cduniverse.com/productinfo.asp?pid=6846011, the Ambrosia Brass Band, David Roe
http://www.cduniverse.com/productinfo.asp?pid=7160585, Cole Prior Stevens http://www.cduniverse.com/productinfo.asp?pid=7133221 and the Zydeco All-Starshttp://www.cduniverse.com/productinfo.asp?pid=1280436.
In 1998, Vyshon Miller p/k/a Silkk the Shocker, the brother of Percy "Master P
" Miller recorded a rap version of the song "It Ain't My Fault", which was released on the album Charge it 2 da Game
.[] Based on the success of his version, in 1999, Silkk the Shocker recorded yet another rap version of the song, this time featuring the rap artist Mystikal
(Michael Tyler), which appeared on the album Made Mann.[] These versions of the song showed up on more than 40 different albums, prompting Johnson and Quezergue to hire Packard Phillips of the law firm Eveline, Davis and Phillips to sue Silkk the Shocker and his record label, No Limit
. At the same time, Johnson and Quezergue sued Joe Jones
, who claimed that Johnson assigned the song to Jones, as well as Aaron Fuchs' Tuff City Records
, which claimed that both Johnson and Quezergue assigned the song to Tuff City.[Case: 99-cv-01374-SSV]
Tuff City responded to the lawsuit by hiring its own intellectual property attorney, Oren Warshavsky. Despite the fact that Johnson did not have a written agreement with Tuff City, Warshavsky successfully convinced the court that Johnson and Quezergue assigned the song to Tuff City, and then convinced the Court to dismiss the claims by Johnson and Quezergue against Tuff City.[Johnson et al. v. Tuff 'N' Rumble et al., 2000 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 12071, 2000 WL 1145748, Copy. L. Rep. P28,145 (E.D. La. August 14, 2000)] Thereafter, Warshavsky also had the Court dismiss the claims against Silkk the Shocker.[Johnson et al. v. Tuff 'N' Rumble et al., 2000 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 18299, 2000 WL 1808486 (E.D. La. December 8, 2000)]. Finally, then working on behalf of Tuff City, Wardell Quezergue
and Johnson
, Warshavsky was able to attain summary judgment against Joe Jones
and his publishing company Melder Music on the issue of copyright infringement, including an award of attorney fees.[Johnson et al. v. Tuff 'N' Rumble et al., 2000 WL 1808431 (E.D. La. December 11, 2000)]
Johnson stopped playing drums when a stroke hobbled him in 1993.
Johnson was forced to leave his home in the wake of Hurricane Katrina
in September 2005.
Johnson is now a resident of Musicians' Village, a Habitat for Humanity project in the Upper Ninth Ward of New Orleans.
Johnson served as the drummer for Fats Domino in the 1950s and 1960's. http://www.mp3.com/news/stories/10716.html http://liveneworleans.com/detail.php?id=548 http://music.msn.com/album/?album=10565400&menu=reviewhttp://www.satchmo.com/nolavl/noladirj.html
In 1961, Johnson and Wardell Quezergue
Wardell Quezergue
Wardell Quezergue was an American music arranger, producer and bandleader, known among New Orleans musicians as the “Creole Beethoven”. Wardell was born into a musical family with his father, Sidney Quezergue Sr., being a guitar player. Wardell was the second youngest of three brothers: Sidney...
worked together on the session for Earl King
Earl King
This article is about the musical artist. For the Earl King convicted of murdering a ship's officer, see Earl King, Ernest Ramsay, and Frank Conner...
's proto-funk classic, "Trick Bag", produced by Dave Bartholomew.http://funky16corners.tripod.com/5_reviews.htmhttp://music.msn.com/album/?album=10565400&menu=review
Soon thereafter, Johnson went with Quezergue and childhood friend Joe Jones
Joe Jones (singer)
Joe Jones was an American R&B singer, songwriter and arranger...
, and several other New Orleans artists (including Johnny Adams
Johnny Adams
Laten John Adams , known as Johnny Adams, was an American blues, jazz and gospel singer, known as "The Tan Canary" for the multi-octave range of his singing voice, his swooping vocal mannerisms and falsetto...
and Earl King
Earl King
This article is about the musical artist. For the Earl King convicted of murdering a ship's officer, see Earl King, Ernest Ramsay, and Frank Conner...
) to audition for Motownin Detroit, where they recorded numerous demo sessions. http://homeofthegroove.blogspot.com/2007/05/funky-to-fault.html Earl King once remarked that at least part of the reason why they got in the door was Motown's fascination with Smokey Johnson, who could do more on a trap set by himself than any two of the label's session drummers. Although Motown ended up not signing any of the New Orleans artists, Johnson offered to remain on staff while the other New Orleans artists were dispatched.
Johnson remained in Detroit for several months before deciding to return home; but his influence on the Motown sound was profound, as the other drummers studied his techniques, incorporating them into countless hit sessions.
In 1963 and 1964, Dave Bartholomew
Dave Bartholomew
Dave Bartholomew is a musician, band leader, composer and arranger, prominent in the music of New Orleans throughout the second half of the 20th century...
enlisted Johnson for his last two Imperial big band albums, giving Johnson the spotlight on the tune, "Portrait Of A Drummer", from New Orleans House Party.
In 1964, about a year after Nola Records was formed in New Orleans, Quezergue a partner in the label as well as principal producer/arranger, invited Johnson to be the drummer for label's house band. http://funky16corners.tripod.com/5_reviews.htm After a few months, Johnson and Quezergue wound up writing and recording what has become a New Orleans Mardi Gras
Mardi Gras
The terms "Mardi Gras" , "Mardi Gras season", and "Carnival season", in English, refer to events of the Carnival celebrations, beginning on or after Epiphany and culminating on the day before Ash Wednesday...
standard called "It Ain't My Fault
It Ain't My Fault
It Ain't My Fault was written by Smokey Johnson and Wardell Quezergue in 1964. Introduced by Harold Dejan's Olympia Brass Band into the contemporary New Orleans brass band repertory, it has become a standard, recorded by the Treme Brass Band, the Preservation Hall Jazz Band and many others."It...
". Deftly arranged, "It Ain't My Fault" is a fascinating early example of both Johnson and Quezergue incorporating Second Line syncopation into pop music. The arranger's device of starting off with just the drummer's relaxed but intricate percussive work (plus somebody hitting what sounds like a glass bottle) quickly pulls the listener into the song, even before the simple musical hook, played by just the guitar and piano. George Davis
George S. Davis
George S. Davis , known as The Singing Miner, was a folk singer and songwriter who worked as a coal miner, and then as a disc jockey on local radio in Hazard, Kentucky from 1947 until 1969.-Career:...
runs the guitar riffs on the first side with that recognizable style made famous several years later on Robert Parker's "Barefootin'". http://homeofthegroove.blogspot.com/2007/05/funky-to-fault.html
While the lighthearted, hard to resist "It Ain't My Fault" was enjoyed locally in New Orleans, it did not have a national impact at the time, it set the stage for many more uniquely funked up grooves to follow, and over time has become a Mardi Gras favorite and a part of the brass band repertoire. "It Ain't My Fault", which sometimes is called "No, It Ain't My Fault" was recorded by groups such as the Olympia Brass Band
Olympia Brass Band
The Olympia Brass Band is a New Orleans jazz brass band.The first "Olympia Brass Band" was active from the late 19th century to around World War I...
(formerly Dejean's Olympia Brass Band) (seven times)http://www.cduniverse.com/productinfo.asp?pid=1280390 http://www.cduniverse.com/productinfo.asp?pid=1280465 http://www.cduniverse.com/productinfo.asp?pid=7301615 http://www.cduniverse.com/productinfo.asp?pid=6843227 http://www.cduniverse.com/productinfo.asp?pid=1280400 http://www.cduniverse.com/productinfo.asp?pid=7512001 http://www.cduniverse.com/productinfo.asp?pid=1003582, the Rebirth Brass Band
Rebirth Brass Band
The Rebirth Brass Band is a New Orleans brass band. The group was founded in 1982 by tuba/sousaphone player Philip Frazier, his brother, bass drummer, Keith Frazier and trumpeter Kermit Ruffins, and other school marching band members from Joseph S. Clark Senior High School in New Orleans’ Tremé...
http://www.cduniverse.com/productinfo.asp?pid=1001662 http://www.cduniverse.com/productinfo.asp?pid=1249826, the Dirty Dozen Brass Band
Dirty Dozen Brass Band
The Dirty Dozen Brass Band is a New Orleans, Louisiana, brass band. The ensemble was established in 1977 by Benny Jones together with members of the Tornado Brass Band...
, Charmaine Neville
Charmaine Neville
Charmaine Neville is a member of a famous New Orleans music family which includes the Neville Brothers. The daughter of Charles Neville, she is currently the leader and lead singer of the Charmaine Neville Band, a jazz/funk band based in New Orleans, Louisiana.Ms...
http://www.cduniverse.com/productinfo.asp?pid=7189525, Milton Batistehttp://www.cduniverse.com/productinfo.asp?pid=1037606, Shane Theriot (guitarist for the Neville Brothers) http://www.cduniverse.com/productinfo.asp?pid=1219396, the Young Olympians http://www.cduniverse.com/productinfo.asp?pid=6846011, the Ambrosia Brass Band, David Roe
David Roe
David Roe is a former English professional snooker player, and a four-time ranking tournament quarter-finalist.Roe began his professional career for the 1986/1987 season...
http://www.cduniverse.com/productinfo.asp?pid=7160585, Cole Prior Stevens http://www.cduniverse.com/productinfo.asp?pid=7133221 and the Zydeco All-Starshttp://www.cduniverse.com/productinfo.asp?pid=1280436.
In 1998, Vyshon Miller p/k/a Silkk the Shocker, the brother of Percy "Master P
Master P
Percy Robert Miller , better known by his stage name Master P or his business name P. Miller, is an American rapper, actor, entrepreneur, investor, and producer. He is the founder of the popular label No Limit Records, which went bankrupt and was relaunched as New No Limit Records through Koch...
" Miller recorded a rap version of the song "It Ain't My Fault", which was released on the album Charge it 2 da Game
Charge It 2 da Game
-Chart positions:-Singles:"Just Be Straight with Me""It Ain't My Fault"...
.[] Based on the success of his version, in 1999, Silkk the Shocker recorded yet another rap version of the song, this time featuring the rap artist Mystikal
Mystikal
Michael Lawrence Tyler , better known by his stage name Mystikal, is an American rapper, and actor from New Orleans.-1993-1994: Early career:...
(Michael Tyler), which appeared on the album Made Mann.[] These versions of the song showed up on more than 40 different albums, prompting Johnson and Quezergue to hire Packard Phillips of the law firm Eveline, Davis and Phillips to sue Silkk the Shocker and his record label, No Limit
No Limit Records
No Limit Records was an American hip-hop record label that was founded in 1990 by hip-hop artist, Percy "Master P" Miller. It was distributed by Priority Records.-No Limit Early years:...
. At the same time, Johnson and Quezergue sued Joe Jones
Joe Jones
Joe Jones may refer to:* Joe Jones , American painter, muralist, and lithographer* Joe Jones , avant-garde musician associated with Fluxus...
, who claimed that Johnson assigned the song to Jones, as well as Aaron Fuchs' Tuff City Records
Tuff City Records
Tuff City Records is a New York-based record label founded by journalist Aaron Fuchs in 1981. Initially concentrating on hip hop music, the label's roster expanded to include doo-wop, dancehall, and hip hop-jazz fusion, and releases included reissues of music from as far back as the 1940s.Fuchs was...
, which claimed that both Johnson and Quezergue assigned the song to Tuff City.[Case: 99-cv-01374-SSV]
Tuff City responded to the lawsuit by hiring its own intellectual property attorney, Oren Warshavsky. Despite the fact that Johnson did not have a written agreement with Tuff City, Warshavsky successfully convinced the court that Johnson and Quezergue assigned the song to Tuff City, and then convinced the Court to dismiss the claims by Johnson and Quezergue against Tuff City.[Johnson et al. v. Tuff 'N' Rumble et al., 2000 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 12071, 2000 WL 1145748, Copy. L. Rep. P28,145 (E.D. La. August 14, 2000)] Thereafter, Warshavsky also had the Court dismiss the claims against Silkk the Shocker.[Johnson et al. v. Tuff 'N' Rumble et al., 2000 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 18299, 2000 WL 1808486 (E.D. La. December 8, 2000)]. Finally, then working on behalf of Tuff City, Wardell Quezergue
Wardell Quezergue
Wardell Quezergue was an American music arranger, producer and bandleader, known among New Orleans musicians as the “Creole Beethoven”. Wardell was born into a musical family with his father, Sidney Quezergue Sr., being a guitar player. Wardell was the second youngest of three brothers: Sidney...
and Johnson
Johnson
Johnson is an English, Scottish, and Irish name of Norman origin. The name itself is a patronym of the given name John, literally meaning "son of John." The name John derives from Latin Johannes, which is derived through Greek Ἰωάννης Iōannēs, from Hebrew יוחנן Yohanan meaning "Yahweh has favoured"...
, Warshavsky was able to attain summary judgment against Joe Jones
Joe Jones
Joe Jones may refer to:* Joe Jones , American painter, muralist, and lithographer* Joe Jones , avant-garde musician associated with Fluxus...
and his publishing company Melder Music on the issue of copyright infringement, including an award of attorney fees.[Johnson et al. v. Tuff 'N' Rumble et al., 2000 WL 1808431 (E.D. La. December 11, 2000)]
Johnson stopped playing drums when a stroke hobbled him in 1993.
Johnson was forced to leave his home in the wake of Hurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina of the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season was a powerful Atlantic hurricane. It is the costliest natural disaster, as well as one of the five deadliest hurricanes, in the history of the United States. Among recorded Atlantic hurricanes, it was the sixth strongest overall...
in September 2005.
Johnson is now a resident of Musicians' Village, a Habitat for Humanity project in the Upper Ninth Ward of New Orleans.